Carthon, the Jets’ assistant head coach in charge of running backs under Al Groh last season, interviewed with Bradway for 4½ hours in the first of the GM’s several scheduled interviews. Jets’ salary-cap specialist Mike Tannenbaum sat in on the interview.

The former Giants fullback and seven-year assistant coach, who figured to be a favorite for the job had his mentor Bill Parcells stayed with the organization, sounded upbeat about the proceedings afterward.

There was some speculation that, out of respect for Carthon and Parcells, Carthon would be interviewed as a courtesy. But those feelings were dispelled yesterday.

“We addressed that and [Bradway] definitely said I was in consideration, that I’m definitely a candidate,” Carthon said last night. “It’s real exciting now, because I feel like I have a legitimate shot now that I’ve gotten a chance to interview. I got a chance to sit down and tell [Bradway] what I can bring to the table. It was important for him to know what I know about this team.

“No one else can come in and know what I know about these players,” Carthon went on. “We won 38 games here in four years with this system in place. You don’t turn your back on things like that if you’re really committed to winning. With someone else coming in new, it’s really like starting all over.”

Carthon said he came away believing the interview “went great.”

“I couldn’t ask for any better situation,” he said.

Next up is Herman Edwards, the Buccaneers’ assistant head coach in charge of defensive backs, who will meet with Bradway today and also is being wooed by the Lions.

Jaguars’ defensive coordinator Dom Capers, also a candidate in Buffalo and Houston, also is scheduled to meet with Bradway tomorrow. Bills’ defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell is due in Wednesday. Cottrell reportedly is going to interview in Buffalo today.

Two other possible candidates could be Giants’ defensive coordinator John Fox and Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis – both of whom are still coach with their respective Super Bowl teams.